Booster system for ignmon circuits



- Sept. 26, 1939.

E. w. wEsToN BOOSTER SYSTEM FOii IQNITION CIRCUITS Filed Aug; 18, 1937 4Sheets-Sheet 1 B CHRYSLER bones FORD HUDSON PAcKnRD E.W.Wesion' Sept.26, 1939. E. w. WESTON BOOSTER SYSTEM FOR IGNITION CIRCUITS Filed Aug.18, 19.37

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 26, 1939 E.'W. WESTON 2,173,379

BOOSTER SYSTEM FOR IGNITION CIRCUITS Filed Aug. 18, 1937 4 SheetsShee't3 Sept. 26, 1939. E. w. WESTON BOOSTER SYSTEM FOR IGNITION CIRCUITSFiled Aug. 18, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,173,870 BOOSTER'BYSTEM Foa IGNITION omcurrsEugene W. Weston, Elginburgh. Ontario, Canada Application August 18,1937, Serial No. 159,692 20 Claims. (01. 123-148) The present inventionrelates to boostersystems' and particularly to improvements in apparatusand the manner of connecting and controlling same whereby theconventional primary ignition circuitis modified during the startingperiod .to obtain a more intensified output in the secondary ignitioncircuit.

The principal objects of the invention are to eliminate the diflicultyof starting a motor car.

engine or other spark-fired engines due to weak or defective sparking atthe plugs and to provide a booster system which will be of neat andcompact form and may be sold as a complete unit and which will providefor the quick attachment or detachment of the booster unit in adefinitely predetermined or polarized relation to the standard batteryand ignition circuits.

The principal features of the invention reside in part in the novelconstruction and arrange-- ment of parts and oo-operative circuits.whereby an increased current is caused to flow through a selective partor all'of the ignition coil primary underthe control of detachable orpolarizing plug contact members which may 'be quickly withdrawn at anytime to permit testing of the normal primary and ignition circuits.

A. further and important feature resides in the novel association with atapped primary of an-ignition coil of a condenser which is connectedbetween the tap and ground and is rendered effective only when a portionof the primary. winding is being energized and is rendered automaticallyineffective during the normal functioning of the primary ignitioncircuit whereby not to interfere with the normal action or efliciency ofthe coil.

A still further and important feature resides in the novel constructionand arrangement of plug-in contacts co-operative with the primaryignition circuit and winding whereby the booster in the battery may bereadily inserted in itsproper polarized relation to the system and an s5indication given of such proper polarization.

4 Figures 6 and 7,

timer and ignition circuit of a motor car.

Figures 1a; 1b and 1c are structural views illustrating a suitable formof contact socket and l" plugsuitable for use in conjunction with thebooster system of Figure 1.

Figure 2 illustrates a modified form of tapped coil booster utilizingthe plug-in feature as a means of cutting in and out a condenser of in-20 creased capacity.

Figure 3 illustrates a further form ofmy in vention showing the plug-infeature associated with 'an auxiliary or booster battery.

Figure 4 is a part structural or diagrammatic 25 view of myimpro'vedbooster system having a v modified form of plug-in contact means inassociation with a booster battery.

Figure5 is a plan view of detachable connector member and coilattachment adaptor and a cable connection therebetween as used in theform of the invention illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a top plate of the battery boosterunit showing the plug-in contacts mounted. thereon and illustrating the35 battery contacts in dotted lines.

Figure 7 is a perspecive view of the relay mounting clamping platedetached from the upper top terminal plate. ,7

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a combined 40 change-over relay andauxiliary contact device which is adapted to be clamped in its mountedposition between the separated plates shown in Figure 9 is a perspectiveview ofthe complete battery booster unit showingthe battery inserted inone selected position of polarity to suit a certain make of car.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure'9, but showing the batteryinsertedin the reverse position to adapt its polarity to a differentmake of car.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the battery booster unit with the coverremovedshowing the change- Q being shown grounded.

over relay andauxiliary breaker in association with the plug-in contactand condensers.

Figure 12 is a miniature perspective view of the complete batterybooster unit ready for connection to the starting motor and ignitionc011.

Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of attachment ofthe energizing cable to the ungrounded brush of the starter motor.

In my co-pending patent application Serial No. 134,096, filed March31st, 1937, I defined a booster system wherein auxiliary breakercontacts were associated with the standard breaker contacts and operatedat an accelerated rate independent of the rate of operation of thestandard breaker contacts but in timed relation thereto during theperiod of starting the motor and the present invention is directed toimprovements thereover and structural adaptations. 1;

. Referringto the form ,of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, thestandard primary ignition circuit I is shown in fight lines and isconnected with one terminal of the car battery 2 through the usualammeter 3, the other battery terminal The circuit l leads through theprimary winding 4 of the ignition coil and thence to the standardbreaker points 5 actuated by the usual engine-driven cam i and acrosswhich the usual condenser 1 is arranged.

The engine-starting motor 8 carries an ungrounded brush 9'(Figure 13)which is energized on the closing of the starter switch II and in orderto facilitate taking a connection from the energized starting motor toenergize my booster system, I provide a lead cable II with a specialthin flexible insulated termlnal i2 which may be readily insertedthrough the usual brush inspection openings I3 in the motor and attachedto the ungrounded brush 9 by removal of the usual circular closing band,which band may then be replaced over the fiat inserted. terminal.

The cable lead II is here shown branched through a relay actuating coilH to ground and also through an auxiliary breaker actuating coil l5 andthence to a stationarycontact it of a relay change-over switch. v

A second stationary contact I! is spaced from the contact I6 and acontact I! is displaceably carried into and out of contact with contacts16 and 11 by operation of the relay arm is on energizing andde-energizing of the coil l4 respectively and the contacts I! and I8 areconnected respectively with leads l1 and it which are compactly confinedinto a single cable 20 (Figures 11; and 10) along with'a third cablelead 2| which is connected with an auxiliary contact 22, the

. other auxiliary contact 23 being carried on a displaceable arm 24 anda spring-mounted arma-- ture. 25 is arranged to be attracted by theenergizing of the coil l5 to permit the auxiliary contacts to close andon releasev of the armature 25 due to de-energizing of the coil IS thearmature is adapted to spring upwardly to impact against.

the arm 24 and drive the auxiliary contacts instantaneouslyapart as setforth in my copendifig application in greater detail.

According to the present invention I insert at a desirable point in theprimary ignition circuit I a pair of self-closing contacts 4' and 5'which may be said to be connected respectively with the outlet end ofthe primary winding 4 and with the standard breaker contact 5, so thatwhen these contacts are allowed to spring or close together the normalprimary circuit will be uninterrupted.

I provide a special contact plug such as illustacts l1" and I8" whichare insulated by the intervening strip 26 and are connectedrespectivelywith the cable leads l1 and I8, so that when the contactsare inserted between the contacts 4 and 5' the change-over relay contactU will be connected with the end of the primary winding, while themovable contact l8' of the relay will be connected to the standardbreaker points 5. j s

I provide in association with the contacts 4 and 5 a third contact 21which is shown connected by a lead 28 to the primary winding at asuitable point intermediate of its length and a blade contact 29 .isshown associated with but spaced and insulated from the contacts l1" andI8" and connected with the end of the cable lead 2| and it will be seenthat when the plug-in device shown in Figures lb and 1c is plugged intoposition, the normal primary circuit will be automatically interruptedand the control and booster circuits will be incorporated and due to thearrangement of the blade contacts there can be being further enhanced bythe fact that the contacts are positively grouped in a predeterminedarrangement and permanently. connected with the various contacts by agroupedcable arrangement.

In Figures 2 and 3 I have shown simple adaptations of the plug-inprinciple which automatically breaks the primary circuit and establishesa booster condition and in this form of the invention the change-overrelay and auxiliary booster may be eliminated. I have found that whenemploying a tapped primary winding wherein only a selected portion ofthe winding is employed during boosting periods, or whenever theinductance is altered, special provision must be made to alter the con-.denser capacity in proportion to thedifierent ins ductance in theprimary and such a condenser is shown in Figures land 2 at 3|] and itwillbe noted that in Figure 1 the condenser is inserted in the coil taplead 2| and a stationary contact 30' which is insulated from the contactll of the relay and is adapted to be grounded on energizing of the relaycoil 14 by engagement of a grounded displaceable contact 30", but whenthe relay coil is de-energized and the normal primary circuit therebyestablished through the complete primary winding by reason of theclosing of the contact l1 and I8, contacts 30' and 30" will be opened,thereby cutting out the condenser 30 so that it will not interfere withthe normal operation of the con.

A separate condenser 3| may be advantageously inserted across theleadsl1 and I8 and the in- 'sulating' strip 26 may advantageously projectbeyond the blade contacts to first separate the conmoved as shown indotto open said lead and engage a contact I" connected with the primarycircuit l between the battery and coil.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 I incorporate the specialcondenser30 by inserting the same between ground and the blade contact I8" andthe tap lead 28 is shown connected by blade contact 29 through aresistance 32 which may be optional, and will serve to relieve thestandard breaker of part of the extra load placed thereon due to thecutting out of the resistance of part of the. primary winding.

In Figure 3 lead 28 is connected at an intermediate point of theprimarywinding which is left idle and open by blade 29 in thiscase not being inthe circuit.

The double blade contacts I1" and I8 of Figure 3 are here shownconnected with the respective terminals of an auxiliary battery. 33, sothat the polarity will be properly related to the polarity of thestandard car battery by insertion of the plug-in contacts so that thebattery 33 will be in series with and boost the. voltage or potential ofthe car battery, but should the car battery be discharged the battery 33will function through car battery 2 or its leads, to provide starting orrunning ignition current for th primary circuit.

Referring to the modified form of the invention illustrateddiagrammatically in Figure 4 wherein a battery is employed inconjunction with a change-over relay and breaker, it will be noted thata special connector 34 (shown in greater detail in Figure 5) has oneterminal 35 adapted to be connected to the timer side terminals 36 areremoval of the timer lead I of the primary circuit therefrom and saidconnector member carries a second terminal 31 insulated from theterminal 35 and to which the removed standard primary timer lead I isadapted to be connected, the terminal 35 being formed with an extension35 which extends into proximity to the high tension outlet to form asafety outlet for the high tension to protect the coil in the event ofthe normal high tension outlet being interrupted.

Leads 38 and 39 connect with the terminals 35 and 31 and these areconfined in a single cord or cable 34' which leadsto a special socketplug 34" having arranged therein a pair of spring contacts 38 and 39'which are adapted to normally spring together to connect the leads 38and 39, thereby establishing the normal continuity of the primary timercircuit and the contact of these springs with each other is elfected ata zone aligned with an ofiset opening 42 for a purpose hereinafterdefined.

A pair of closely arranged blade contacts 40 and 4| insulated from eachother and bridged by the condenser 3|, are adapted to enter the plugopening 42 and the intervening insulating strip projecting beyond thecontacts is adapted-to first engage between and separate the engaging-contacts 38' and 33' and on a further endwise movement of the plug theblade contacts 40 and 4| will engage and makeelectrical contactrespectively with the spring contacts 38 and 39,

so that in effect the blade contact 40 will be connected with the outletterminal of the primary winding, while the blade contact 4| will beconnected with the standard timer points 5. r

A booster battery 43 is provided with contact with thestrip 50 and theplug 34" is adapted to co-operate selectively with either set ofcontacts,

Again referring to the diagrammatic showing in Figure 4, the movablerelay arm I! is shown carrying a contact 40' for normal engagement witha fixed contact 4| which contacts are respectively connected to thecontacts 40 and 4|. A second movable contact l5 of the relay isconnected to the breaker coil l5 and adapted to engage the contact 4| asthe contact 40' is withdrawn therefrom on energization of the relay toengage a second fixed contact 46 connected with the battery terminalcontact 46.

The other battery contact terminal 41 is con-- nected by a lead 41' toauxiliary breaker contact 22 and the other auxiliary contact 23 is showngrounded and the condenser 33 is shown connected between the contact 22and ground and is of a suitable capacity to obtain the required rapidde-magnetization of the iron core of the ignition coil.

An open-ended plug guide and contact protector shown in'Figures 9 and 10and in dotted line Figure 6 houses the paired blade contacts so thatthey are ofl'set to opposite sides thereof to align substantially withthe offset plug opening 42 only when the plug in inserted in its properrelation to the respective contacts housed within the hood 55 and it istherefore impossible for the plug to be wrongly inserted and therebymake an improper connection and the plug 34 carries a notch 56 which isadapted to receive a locking projection 51 at the entrance to the hood55 and the spring of the plug contact is adapted to urge the plug towardthe locking projection 51 to retain the plug against accidental removal.

By placing the plug in position so that its contacts engage the contacts40 and 4|, the normal primary circuit between the standard timer andcoil will be broken and the opposite sides of the break will beconnected with the respective relay contacts 40. and 4| sothat theprimary circuit will then be normally closed by the normal engagement ofthe contacts 40' and "4|.

On the energizing of the 'relay coil l4 by depressing the starter switchIII the contact |5 will be drawn into engagement with the contact 4| andcontact 4|! will be disconnected from 4| and engaged with contact 46'.The engagement of contacts l5 and 4| establishes an auxiliary controlcircuit from battery 2 through lead ll, coil to contact 4| and 39' andthrough primary circuit lead I' to'the standard points and ground.Simultaneously the closing of contacts 40' and 46' establishes a boosterprimary circuit from battery 2' through the coil primary and cable leads38, 38 and 40 and thence through the prgperly polarized booster battery43 and from thence through the lead '41 and auxiliary breaker points- 22and 23 to ground.

If it is desired to completely disconnect the.

booster system from co-operative relation with.

the standard primary circuit, this may be instantaneously accomplishedby simply withdrawing the plug contact device 34" clear of the contacts40 and 4| and allowing the contacts 38'- and 39' to close and completethe normal primary circuit so that the said normal circuit may bequickly tested inthis way. r

If for any reason the standard car battery 2 or its connections to thecoil primary should fail thereby ordinarily preventing the operation ofthe engine, this emergency can be quickly overcome by simply pluggingthe contact plug 34" on to the battery blade contacts 48 and 49 at theopposite end of the hood 55, thereby establishing a primary circuitthrough the standard-breaker points 5, lead I, cable lead 39, contacts39' and 49 and thence through the auxiliary battery 43 and backthrough-contacts l8 and 38', cable lead 38 and thence through theprimary winding of the coil and through the remainder of the primarycircuit l and to ground, so that the car may be maintained in operationuntil the defect in the standard battery has been corrected.

The change-over relay mechanism and the auxiliary 'breaker mechanism mayadvantageously be combined in a single unit as illustrated in Figure 8and which specific construction forms the basis of aseparate'application which I propose to file shortly.

In the present application it is to be noted that the said relay andauxiliary mechanism forms a complete compact unit which is adapted to beclamped between the: insulating plates 5| and 52 by the clamping screws53, so that it will be housed in a compartment 54 above the battery case53 in a sealed manner and in direct association with the plug-in contactarranged within the hood. 55 so that a compact and efflcient assembly isprovided.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10 and to the illustrated showing in Figure4, it is important to note that the battery 43 is adaptedto bereversibly placed within the casing 53 in conjunction with specialindicating indicia which. will indicate very definitely the properposition in which the battery is' to be placed in the casing. In thepresent instance I propose to print the names of cars on one side of thebattery having the negative terminal of the standard car batterygrounded, while on the other and opposite side of the battery I proposeto print the names of cars which have the positive side of the standardcar battery grounded, so that when the battery is inserted in the openside of the casing with its contact terminals engaging the springcontacts and H, the battery will be properly positioned if the name ofthe car on which the installation is -made appears on the outward sideof the battery. In this way the proper insertion of the auxiliarybattery will be assured and in order to facilitate insertion and removalof the battery I provide a slidably removable base section 54" havingprotuberances 54" which may advantageously be of slight wedge shape sothat when the bottom is pressed to its proper position with the batteryinserted, the battery will be flrmlyheld upwardly.

The installation of this booster imit is a very simple matter, since itis merely necessary to connect the flat terminal I2 of the cable II toan ungrounded brush of the starting motor or other suitable availablepoint of energy and to disconnect the primary lead I fromthe breakerside terminal of the coil primary and to attach the connector device 34carried. by the cable 3| to the said coil terminal and replace the leadI on the connector terminal 31 and the cable arrangement of the wiresand the provision of connector or plug members which can only beattached in the proper manner, eliminates difliculties heretoforeexperienced due to complications and the problems involved in wiring.

What I claim as my invention is: l. The combination with a primaryignition circuit including 'standard breaker contacts, a

high tension coil having its primary normally connected in series m'thsaid standard breaker contacts, and an ignition booster system in.-cluding auxiliary breaker contacts, of means including detachableplug-in connections for connecting said respective systems incooperative re-- lation with the auxiliary breaker contacts in shuntwith said standard breaker contacts and in series with a portion atleast of the primary winding of said coil.

2. The combination with a primary ignition circuit of the coil andbattery type including standard breaker contacts normally connected inseries with said battery and the primary of said coil, and an ignitionbooster system including a control circuit and a booster circuit, thelatter including auxiliary breaker contacts, of means for inserting saidbooster system in quickly detachable relation to said primary ignitioncircuit with the said control circuit in series with the standardbreaker contacts and with the auxiliary breaker contacts of the boostercircuit in shunt with said standard breaker contacts and in series witha portion at least of the primary winding of said coil to utilize saidcoil for boosting purposes while protecting said standard breakercontacts from overloading during the boosting cycle.

3. The combination with a primary ignition circuit of the coil andbattery type including standard breaker contacts, normally connected inseries with said battery and the primary winding of said coil, andauxiliary control and booster circuits including an auxiliary breakerhaving a control coil included in said auxiliary control circuit, ofmeans manually operable to incorporate said respective control andbooster circuits in cooperative association with said primary circuitwith said control coil in series with said standard breaker contacts andwith said auxiliary breaker in shunt with said standard breaker contactsand in series with a portion at least of with said auxiliary breaker,and means for incorporating said control circuit in said primarycircuit.

5. The combination with a primary ignition circuit including standardbreaker contacts and ignition coil having its primary normally connectedin series with said standard contacts, of a booster system includingauxiliary breaker contacts and means for detachably connecting saidbooster system within said primary circuit including contact membersseparable to break the normal primary circuit and establish connectionswith the booster system with said auxiliary breaker contacts in serieswith .a portion at least of the primary of said ignition coil andadapted on removal of the booster system to 2,178,870 complete thenormal primary circuit to facilitate I testing thereof.

6. The combination with a primary ignition circuit including a primarywinding, of control and booster circuits the latter including anauxiliary breaker, self-closing contacts in said primary circuit, pairedcontacts forming terminals of said control circuit adapted to be enteredbetween said self-closing contacts to break the primary circuit andinsert the control circuit therein, a further contact connected withsaid primary winding at a point intermediate of its length, and aninsertable contact member cooperating with said latter contact andconnected with said booster circuit.

7. Means as claimed in claim 6 in which said control and booster circuitcontacts are grouped as a detachable unit to be plugged into and out ofengagement with said primary and winding contacts.

8. Means as claimed in claim 6 in which said control circuit contactscomprise spaced blade members, and insulating means associated therewithadaptedto first separate said primary circuit contacts prior to theestablishing of electrical contacts between said respective. bladecontacts and the primary circuit contacts.

9. The combination with a primary ignition circuit including a primarywinding and a booster .unit for cooperation therewith, of means forminga quick detachable connection between said booster system and primarycircuit to provide an increased current flow in said primary winding, acondenser having a capacity greater than practical with the normalenergizing of said primary circuit and winding, and means co-operativewith the'aforesaid means for rendering said condenser efiective onlywhen said booster system is in operation.

10. The combination with a primary ignition circuit and control andbooster circuits the latter including an auxiliary breaker, of a pair ofcontacts spaced apart and one connected with the control circuit and theother with the booster circuit, means for breaking the primary circuitbetween the coil and standard breaker points, a pair of self-closingcontacts connected with the opposite sides of the break and adapted tonormally close the break and adapted to receive the aforesaid spacedcontacts therebetween to connect the opposite sides of the breaktherewith and open the self-closing contacts, and a booster batteryincluded in said booster circuit.

11. Means as claimed in claim 10 in which said means for breaking theprimary circuit comprises a connector member having a pair of terminalsone for connection to the timer side terminal of the high tension coiland the other for connection with the standardbreaker points, saidterminals having leads therefrom confined in a cable formation andterminating in a detachable plug' member housing said self-closingcontacts with 'which they are connected.

12. Means as claimed in claim 10 in which a second pair of contacts areprovided spaced from each other and connected with the respectiveterminals of said booster battery and said self-closing primary contactsare adapted to be removed from said first-mentioned pair of contacts andplaced on said latter pair of contacts to energize said primary circuiton failure of the standard battery.

13. Means as claimed in claim 10 in'which registering means are providedco-operatively relatedto said paired contacts and said self-closingconthe car on which the booster tacts respectively to ensure against animproper connection being made between said respective contacts.

14. Means as claimed in claim in which said booster battery isreversibly mounted whereby it may be properly polarized to meet therequirement of the particular primary circuit to which it is to beconnected, and means for indicating when said battery is properlypolarized in said System.

15. Means as claimed in claim 10 in which said booster battery isreversibly mounted whereby it-may be properly polarized to meet therequirement of the particular primary circuit to which it is to beconnected, and means for indicating when saidbattery is properlypolarized in said system, including a casing in which the auxiliarybattery is reversibly mounted and having terminals to register with thebattery terminals in either position, said battery having indicatingindicia thereon adapted to be exposed when the batteryis in mountedposition to indicate whether or not the battery is properly installed.

.16. Means as claimed in claim 10 in which said booster battery isreversibly mounted whereby it may be properly polarized to meet therequirement of the particular primary circuit to which it is to beconnected, and means for indicating when said battery is properlypolarized in said system, including a casing for reversibly receivingsaid booster battery and having an Opening at one side, said battery andeasing having terminals which are adapted to contact in either positionof the battery, said battery having on opposite sides the names ofdiiferent cars which when the name of the car is exposed at the openside of said casing corresponding to the name of system is installed,will indicate-the correct position of the battery in relation to saidbooster system.

17. The combination with a primary ignition circuit, of a. boosterunitfor incorporation therein comprising in combination, a casing, abooster battery reversibly mounted in said casing, a

change-over relay andaux'iliary breaker mounted in said-casing, controland booster circuits incorporating said change-over and auxiliarybreaker units respectively and including a cable connectionextendingfrom said casing adapted to be connected to an ungrounded brushof a starting motor, paired contacts mounted on said casing and facingin opposite directions, one pair having the contacts connectedrespectively with the control circuit and booster circuit and the otherpair being connected respectively with the terminals of the reversiblebattery, a cable having a pair of separate leads therein and means atone end for connecting said leads to the standard breaker point andprimary winding respectively and having plug contacts at the other endfor selectively engaging said first .and second-mentioned pairedcontacts, and a hood member mounted on said casing and having openingsat the ends permitting entry of said plug-in contacts only in theirproper relation to said paired contacts.

18. The combination with a primary circuit including a primary ignitioncoil winding, standard breaker contacts and a standard condenserassociated with said coil and contacts, of control and booster circuitsthe latter including an auxiliary primary circuit'breaker and acondenser ofgreater capacity than said standard condenser, meansmanually operable to incorporate a portion only of the normal length ofthe coil primary in said auxiliary circuit and to simultaneouslyincorporate said control circuit in said primary circuit in series withsaid standard breaker points, the-increased capacity of the boostercircuit condenser being proportional to the reduction in the activeportion of the pri- 20. The combination with a primary ignition circuitincluding standard breaker contacts, a source of current, and a hightension coil having its primary normally connected in series with saidstandard breaker contacts and said current source of means for causing aheavier than normal boosting current to be circulated through a portionat least of the primary winding of said coii free 01 said standardbreaker contacts in timed relation thereto, including in combination abooster system having an auxiliary breaker, and means for connectingsaid booster system with said standard ignition circuit and said primarywith a portion at least of said primary in series with saidauxiliary'breaker.

EUGENE w; WESTON.

